The inAir9 is an 868 or 915 MHz wireless module using the Semtech SX1276 chip, with a standard SMA connector for attaching an external antenna. It can be mounted on a custom board, a prototype board, or boards with a 0.9" iMod port. The SX1276 is a revolutionary chip enabling wireless communications at distances up to 15km, using Semtech's LoRa (Long Range) technology. This chip also supports high performance (G)FSK modes for systems including WMBus, IEEE802.15.4g.

This module is a sibling to the inAir9B. The difference is that this one has a maximum output power of +14dBm (25mW), whereas the inAir9B has a maximum output of +20dBm (100mW), but also uses more supply current even when set to +14dBm or less. So if you intend to use the lower output power (or have to because of your country's regulations), this module would be the better choice.

Also, this module can operate either on the 868 MHz band (for use in Europe only) or 915 MHz (used in North America and parts of Australia). Note: Make sure you only use the frequencies and power output allowed by your country, and obtain any licenses necessary to operate on the frequency.

The board is a high-quality, RF-optimized, 4-layer PCB. It has been designed with assistance from Semtech engineers, ensuring optimum layout and performance. Only brand-name, high-quality components are used. All capacitors and inductors are high-precision parts, resulting in optimized performance. The crystal a very critical component for the SX1276, and is required to be very accurate to achieve high sensitivity. This board uses a high-accuracy crystal as recommended by Semtech.

This module will outperform competitor products that use 2-layer PCBs, cheap capacitors and inductors and low-accuracy crystals.

The inAir9 module enables 3.3V devices (e.g. a microcontroller) to communicate with remote nodes via a wireless protocol. An SMA edge connector is mounted on this board. An SMA antenna is not included; add one using the options at the bottom of this page. Two standard 1×7, 2.54mm (0.1") pin headers (or press-fit headers) can be soldered onto this board (position X1 and X2 on board); choose via the option selector below. If required, this module can be used as an SX1276 breakout board, and wires can be soldered onto the PCB instead of pin headers.

LoRa 868/915MHz Module Features

Operating voltage from 1.8V to 3.7V

153 dB maximum link budget

+14 dBm high-efficiency PA

Programmable bit rate up to 300 kbps

High sensitivity: down to -139 dBm (-148 only possible with TCXO)

Bullet-proof front end: IIP3 = -11 dBm

Excellent blocking immunity

Low RX current of 9.9 mA, 200 nA register retention

Fully integrated synthesizer with a resolution of 61 Hz

FSK, GFSK, MSK, GMSK, LoRa and OOK modulation

Built-in bit synchronizer for clock recovery

Preamble detection

127 dB Dynamic Range RSSI

Automatic RF Sense and CAD with ultra-fast AFC

Packet engine up to 256 bytes with CRC

Built-in temperature sensor and low-battery indicator

High-quality assembly, with brand-name components

Module dimensions: 27.3 × 24.51 mm (1.075 × 0.965 inches)

Operating Temperature -40 to +85 °C

Solder Jumper J1 & RF Switch

Note that solder jumper J1 at the back of the board has to be made to apply power to the RF Switch. Making jumper J1 applies permanent 3.3V power to the RF Switch (U5 in schematic = PE4259).

If solder jumper J1 is not made, power for the RF switch is supplied via iMod port pin 10, marked VS on the PCB. This is useful for very low-power applications that want to save the 9 to 20µA supply current required by the RF switch. For these applications, power can be supplied (to iMod port pin 10) via a port pin on CPU only when transmitting or receiving.

Option 1 to power RF Switch: Make solder jumper J1 on back of board.

Option 2 to power RF Switch: Ensure solder jumper J1 is NOT made. RF switch can now be powered on/off by applying 3.3V to iMod port pin 10 (marked VS on PCB).

iMod Pin Configuration

This is an iMod module with 0.9" pin column width, meaning it uses a standard pinout and configuration that allows it to be connected easily to any host board that has a 0.9" wide iMod port (some iMod ports may only support 0.7" width). The recommended use is with the Modtronix NZ32-SC151, but you also could use it with the SBC83I or the various PT66E Prototyping Add-ons for boards in the SBC66 series.

The pin pitch is 0.1" so you can use the module also on any typical prototyping board or breadboard.

Pin Header Options

Use the Headers option at the bottom of this page to select what type of pin headers you want included with the module. The default option is for common rectangular pins included loose. All pin header types use 3mm long pins. The header strips will be seven pins for each side.

Below the header option selector, you will see socket strips that will mate with the Round Swiss pin header type. If you want to install the socket strips on your prototype so that you can plug in this module with Round Swiss pins, make sure to change and Update the quantity of sockets to 2 during checkout. (While a 7-pin socket is not available as a separate item, you can break off one pin from the 8-pin sockets to make them into 7-pin sockets.)